UAE Launches World’s First Ministry Of Possibilities

The United Arab Emirates unveiled a new branch of government, a Ministry of Possibilities, three years after launching a department in charge of happiness.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the UAE’s premier and ruler of Dubai, said the “unconventional” ministry would function “without a minister” but with input from the whole cabinet.

The virtual ministry, administered by the cabinet, will address pressing national portfolios and build future government systems. It would also cut waiting times for government services, according to the Dubai government’s media office.

Sheikh Mohammed said: “Future challenges require the constant development of the government structure… and impossible is not in our dictionary.”

The Ministry of Possibilities will oversee the Department of Behavioural Rewards in the first phase. The department will bring together a team from different ministries and public entities to develop an approach for sensitizing positive behavior through a point-based “rewards” system.

Individuals will be able to collect points that can be used in payments for government services. The department will also develop a list of positive behaviors with a measurement system that will calculate points and rewards.

The Ministry’s Department of UAE Talent will create a nurturing environment to empower Emiratis to be part of the country’s journey and contribute to designing the future.

The department will develop tools to identify the talent of all ages and from all social segments and create innovative channels to enable citizens to develop their skills and talent for the service of their country.

It will create a framework for talent development and analysis, create an evaluation mechanism and collaborate with companies to provide the necessary support.

The Department of Government Procurement aims to develop a radically new approach for government procurement that will make procurement faster and more accessible, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The department aims to create an easy-to-use government procurement platform based on the latest developments in digital markets that will help promote SMEs and improve government cost-effectiveness.